Important Innovations

Ugo: Multi-Tasker that Can Even Fold Your Laundry Source:  Mira Robotics' Ugo Invented by Mira Robotics Japan's workforce is dwindling by more than a half-million workers a year because of its aging population.  To fill the worker shortage, Japan is experiencing an acceleration in the development of new, versatile robots.  A great new example is Ugo, the creation of Japanese startup company Mira Robotics. Remote Wireless Operation Ugo is a state of the art, remote controlled Avatar robot.  It is composed of a pair of height adjustable robotic arms that are mounted on wheels.  It navigates with a laser on its base.  And it is operated remotely through a wireless connection to a laptop and game controller. Many Uses Ugo has many uses. Its primary purpose is to serve as a worker robot and fill needs in Japan's dwindling workforce.  It can work as a security guard, inspect equipment and clean buildings.  It can also serve as a helper in homes, for instance, to fold

Germany's Flying Taxi Startup Lilium Source:  Lilium Top Tesla Investor Takes a Stake Tesla's top external investor, Edinboro based Baillie Gifford, has taken a stake in the German air taxi startup Lilium.  The investment management firm has invested $35 million, which is a less than 5% stake, in Lilium which vows to be the global leader in the emerging air taxi industry. Flight Tested Lilium has a proven air taxi prototype.  Its 5 seat, passenger air taxi took a maiden flight in October 2019 and successfully took-off, flew and landed.  The Lilium Jet is an electric, vertical take off and landing vehicle (eVTOL).  It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter.  The vehicle is powered by 36 electric jet engines placed in the wings. Competitive Racing for Market Launch With a fresh round of funding, Munich-based Lilium has a market valuation of more than $1 billion.  It is racing to bring the eVTOL flying taxi to market.  Competitors include Uber

Great New Book on Amazon amazon.com/author/ekane Flying Cars, Supersonic Planes, e-Bikes and Much More “Future Travel Vehicles” takes you on an exciting tour of the future of driving, flying and gliding to your destination. If you’re looking forward to faster and zero-emissions modes of transportation, you’ll love this book.    The future of personal mobility is electric, solar, hydrogen powered and autonomous.    The vehicles are rolling out in the 2020’s, 2030’s and beyond. For direct access and a free sample read of the Kindle e-book, go to  ASIN: B089RQMJ9B And, for the paperback, go to   ASIN: B089M1J1XY  I co-authored the book with Ed.  It's a fun and fascinating look at the future of travel.

UK Inventor Does It  McFly Personal Air Mobility A UK inventor Sam Rogers has taken to the skies on a hoverboard using a $432,000 jet flying suit he helped to design with a 3D printer.  The 24 year old is believed to be the first to fly a real-life hoverboard that was made famous in the 1989 blockbuster movie "Back to the Future" Part 2 that the character Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox,  flew.  A Delorean time machine was part of the movie and the real-life scene at a UK airfield. Jet Packing at 50 MPH Rogers is design lead and test pilot for the British aeronautical innovation companies Gravity Industries and Additive X.  The 1000 brake horsepower jet suit weighs 60 pounds.  There are 6 kerosene fueled turbines on the back and arms, each with 50 pounds of thrust.  The flight path is controlled by the human's body movements.  There are some controls in the grip handles. This unusual form of personal air mobility gadget is said to be able to do more than 50 mph. Fut

Motorola Rolls Out Two Smartphones Under $200 Source:  Motorola Moto G Fast New Budget Phone Wars The global smartphone battle for your dollars just got hotter.  Motorola is rolling out in the global market two phones that are priced below $200.  The Moto E is priced at $149.99.  The Moto G Fast is priced at $199.99.  Experts say they have a modern design, big batteries and budget friendly pricing. Bargain Phone Details Both phones pack a lot of punch.  The Moto E has a 6.2 inch LCD, 32 GB of storage, cameras (main, depth and front), headphone jack and microUSB and a battery of 3550mAh.  The Moto G Fast has a 6.4 inch LCD, 32GB of storage, cameras (main, wide angle, macro, front), a USB-C, headphone jack and a battery of 4000 mAh.  They don't have a great deal of competition at their price points and could trigger a new round of product innovation and price wars at the sub $200.00 level.  The phones start shipping in mid June.

BOOKS BY JOURNALIST EDWARD KANE Non-fiction books on innovations and discoveries across industries in 2020 and 2019.   TOP INVENTIONS FOR THE 2020's Just Published by Amazon and Kindle  amazon.com/author/ekane SMART DEVICES FOR THE 2020's Just published by Amazon and Kindle   amazon.com/author/ekane FUTURE TRAVEL VEHICLES Just published by Amazon and Kindle  amazon.com/author/ekane FUTURE TRAVEL VEHICLES BY EDWARD KANE SPACE "Space 2020's:  What's Up There?" - Kindle & paperback "Bargain Space Trips" - Kindle & paperback "Space Renaissance in the 21st Century" - Kindle & paperback "Search For Life in Space" - Kindle & paperback TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL INNOVATIONS "Future of Transportation:  2020's and Beyond" - Kindle & paperback "Electric Vehicles for All" - Kindle & paperback "Hot Electric Vehicles fo

New Energy Generator Powers Small Electronics                                                   Source:  NUS Device This is An Electrifying Invention This new invention is called a shadow-effect energy generator.  It's the stuff of science fiction but it's real.  The device produces a current from the differences between bright light and shadowy areas.  The bigger the contrast in light the more energy it produces.  The device can produce enough energy to power a small electronic device like an electronic watch.  The materials scientist inventor - Swee Ching Tan of the National University of Singapore - says this allows us to "harvest energy anyplace on Earth." Shadows of Value The new device is similar to a solar cell.  Tan created the generator by placing a thin coat of gold over silicon.  Light shining on the silicon energizes its electrons. With the gold layer, the generator produces a current when part of the device is in shadow.  Next Steps and Potential Skyscrap